Letter to the Editor: Memorial Day gift from a resident is a home run for three soldiers, one son

June 11, 2010
by Major Bob Coulombe

I would like to thank NewCastleNOW.org for their great support in helping me contact our Veterans and bring them out for the Memorial Day Service. Let me share a few nice stories that emerged.

Not only was this one of the best turnouts of Veterans in my memory, but one WWII Vet told me he had never marched or participated in a Memorial Day since he came home in 1946.  And not only did he march, but he also confided to me I was the first person outside of his family he had ever spoken to about his experience. What an honor. 

Another Veteran told me he had been in over 60 of these Services and this was the best he had ever attended. The reasons he gave were his sense of the participation by the New Castle community, the eloquence of our keynote speaker, Ben Berkey and the poignancy of the Mourn Arms ceremony [To see NCNOW piece on Matt Nordt and the “Mourn Arms” ceremony, click HERE].

Anonymous gift to veterans a home run

At the conclusion of the event, a citizen of New Castle handed me four tickets to the Yankee game for the following evening with the instruction I give them to a Veteran. I am very happy to advise this fine citizen that I got them to three Veterans, all of whom have served in Iraq and one of whom had just returned.  The eight-year-old son of one of the veterans was the fourth ticket.  None of the four had seen the new stadium. 

This resident’s simple generosity was a home run.  Thank you, sir, for a simple gesture that put great joy in the hearts of a Dad and his son and another two great guys who are on the line for us today in the military. 

I met some truly great Veterans, had some great conversations, a couple of great hugs and was so proud of our town for standing tall as we paid our respects to the beautiful young men and women who gave their lives for us. Thank you, New Castle, for being the great community you are. 

Thanks to Walter Quast and the New Castle Department of Public Works for the advance work.  The train station site was beautifully appointed, festooned with flags from the Revolutionary War to the present. This year, our many voices carried well over a much-improved sound system.  Thanks to all those who marched, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, school bands, Fifth Regiment members our elected officials and former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. 

Most of all, thank you, Veterans, for joining me in paying our respects to our fallen brothers and sisters. 

Please note my email and phone numbers: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 747-4322, cell 261-3750, and call me if you have such gifts to pass on to our Veterans.

Major Bob Coulombe
Grand Marshal
Town of New Castle Memorial Day Parade